Search - Dark Journey (B&W) on DVD

Don't buy this one, buy the AMC collection for almost the sa

J. Robbins | Orlando, FL | 10/13/2008

(1 out of 5 stars)

""Dark Journey" is a war-time drama starring Vivien Leigh (only 22 years old and 2 years before her turn in "Gone with the Wind.") If you are looking for another epic Vivien Leigh movie, this isn't what you're looking for. I would suggest this film if you are a die-hard Leigh fan and you want to see how she developed into an icon. This movie was just fluff, but at only 77 minutes, I enjoyed it.



However, I strongly suggest NOT buying the DVD released by Vina Distributors. The DVD was unplayable on 3 separate machines and I got it brand new. Another reason to look elsewhere is that AMC has released a small collection of 4 of Leigh's early films and this is among them. The price is only a few dollars more, and you're getting 4x the deal (and it plays perfect, although the films have obviously not been well-preserved.) The other films included in the "Vivien Leigh Classics" set are "Storm in a Teacup" (featuring Rex Harrison)/"Fire Over England" (featuring Laurence Olivier)/"Sidewalks of London" (featuring Charles Laughton and Rex Harrison.) This is by far the better deal."

Love across enemy lines

Alejandra Vernon | Long Beach, California | 02/17/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Told mostly in flashback, this is a story of espionage and intrigue, but mostly of love among spies...spies with different allegiances.

It is early Vivien Leigh, two years before "Gone With the Wind", a little fuller in figure, and utterly gorgeous. Her face was born to meet the lens of a camera, and she is stunning here, as French double agent Madeleine, owner of a fashion store as "cover" for her activities, and in love with the head of German intelligence, a much older man, but extremely attractive, and the chemistry between them is marvelous. Conrad Veidt is Baron Von Marwitz, and he is perfect for the part (classic movie fans will remember Veidt as Major Heinrich Stragger in "Casablanca").



The story is a little disjointed at times, and the plot actually quite thin; the time is Spring in 1918, during WWI in Stockholm, where both sides were able to move freely. Directed by Victor Saville and with a good score by Richard Addinsell, it is a nice curiosity piece at 82 minutes. Leigh fans will love it, and anyone interested in the make-up/fashion end of filmmaking, as it has a stylish wardrobe and it is interesting to examine just what adds to Leigh's beauty in this film, on top of her natural attributes and acting ability.

This Vina budget DVD is a little fuzzy in both audio and video, but considering the film was made in 1937, as well as the rock bottom price it is selling for, it is quite acceptable.

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